Every member in the throng, every atom in the medley, has his own objects (good or bad), his own purposes (great or petty); his own notions, such as they are, of what is; his own notions, such as they are, of what ought to be.
Bagehot reflects on the diverse motivations and perspectives of individuals within a society.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
That a House of Commons may work well it must perform, as we saw, five functions well: it must elect a Ministry well, legislate well, teach the nation well, express the nation's will well, bring matters to the nation's attention well.
The Parliament, the laws, the press were human institutions; but the Monarchy was a Divine institution.
But the Jewish advantage never did so; beginning in religion, contrary to a thousand analogies, it remained religious.
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